depress
    v 1: lower someone's spirits; make downhearted; "These news
         depressed her"; "The bad state of her child's health
         demoralizes her" [syn: depress, deject, cast down,
         get down, dismay, dispirit, demoralize,
         demoralise] [ant: elate, intoxicate, lift up, pick
         up, uplift]
    2: lower (prices or markets); "The glut of oil depressed gas
       prices"
    3: cause to drop or sink; "The lack of rain had depressed the
       water level in the reservoir" [syn: lower, depress]
    4: press down; "Depress the space key" [syn: press down,
       depress]
    5: lessen the activity or force of; "The rising inflation
       depressed the economy"

Depress \De*press"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depressed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Depressing.] [L. depressus, p. p. of deprimere; de-
   + premere to press. See Press.]
   1. To press down; to cause to sink; to let fall; to lower;
      as, to depress the muzzle of a gun; to depress the eyes.
      "With lips depressed." --Tennyson.
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   2. To bring down or humble; to abase, as pride.
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   3. To cast a gloom upon; to sadden; as, his spirits were
      depressed.
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   4. To lessen the activity of; to make dull; embarrass, as
      trade, commerce, etc.
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   5. To lessen in price; to cause to decline in value; to
      cheapen; to depreciate.
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   6. (Math.) To reduce (an equation) in a lower degree.
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   To depress the pole (Naut.), to cause the sidereal pole to
      appear lower or nearer the horizon, as by sailing toward
      the equator.

   Syn: To sink; lower; abase; cast down; deject; humble;
        degrade; dispirit; discourage.
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Depress \De*press"\, a. [L. depressus, p. p.]
   Having the middle lower than the border; concave. [Obs.]
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         If the seal be depress or hollow.        --Hammond.
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